Aberdeen Shore Excursions

Step ashore in Aberdeen and discover some of the spectacular landscapes of north-east Scotland on foot with your own experienced local guides.

Our private shore excursions are built around a guided walk, with the route and pace tailored to your interests, experience and time ashore. Depending on your day, we can also include some of Royal Deeside and Aberdeenshire’s history, wildlife and local highlights along the way. We can accommodate private bookings for up to 16 guests, normally divided into smaller guide-led groups to maintain a personal experience.

Four hikers hiking through a purple-flowered hillside in a mountainous landscape under cloudy sky.

Start Time: Arranged around your ship’s arrival and departure times.

Walking Level: Our shore excursions can be tailored from gentle walks to more challenging hill days. We’ll help choose a route that suits your experience and fitness.

Terrain: The terrain can be a mix of forest footpaths or hiking trails, sometimes uneven in places. We do have fully accessible options, just contact us to discuss.

Requirements: All walks can be tailored to your requirements and fitness levels. You will require appropriate outdoor clothing and footwear, like trail shoes or hiking boots.

Planning a cruise visit to Aberdeen? Tell us about your ship and the kind of walk you have in mind.

Discover Aberdeenshire on Foot

Step beyond the city and experience Aberdeenshire’s landscapes on foot, with a walk shaped around you.

  • Explore beautiful Scottish landscapes on foot.

  • Enjoy a private experience tailored to your interests and walking ability.

  • Private transport from and back to the cruise port is included.

  • Private excursions for up to 16 guests, normally divided into smaller guide-led groups.

  • Flexible itineraries planned around your ship’s schedule.

A close-up of a majestic stag with large antlers standing among tall grasses in a natural setting.

Great Walking Within Easy Reach of Aberdeen

Some of Aberdeenshire’s best walking landscapes are within easy reach of the cruise port:

  • Bennachie – around 45 minutes

  • Royal Deeside – around 1 hour 20 minutes

  • Cairngorms National Park – around 1 hour

Private transport from and back to the cruise port is included, allowing us to make the most of your time ashore.

Walking Locations from Aberdeen Cruise Port

Map of northeast Scotland showing five marked locations near Aberdeen, with an inset map of the entire UK area highlighting this region.

Walking Experiences from Aberdeen Cruise Port

  1. Bennachie Hill Adventure

  2. Royal Deeside Walk

  3. Cairngorms National Park Walk

  4. Drum Castle & the Old Wood of Drum

  5. Stonehaven & Dunnottar Castle

Bennachie Hill Adventure

A gently sloping hillside with small green pine trees, a narrow dirt path, and a rocky summit under a partly cloudy sky.

Just 45 minutes from Aberdeen Harbour, Bennachie is one of Aberdeenshire’s most distinctive landscapes and an excellent choice for a shore excursion on foot. With routes ranging from gentle woodland walks to the summit of Mither Tap, we can tailor the experience to your interests, walking ability and time ashore.

With your Hillgoers guide, you can explore forest trails, open moorland and the remains of the ancient hill fort around Mither Tap. Along the way, discover the stories of the Bennachie Colonists, the Picts, local wildlife and the cultural heritage of this much-loved Aberdeenshire landmark.

Why Bennachie works well for a shore excursion:

  • Just 45 minutes from Aberdeen Harbour.

  • Choose between a summit walk or gentler woodland and heritage trails.

  • Enjoy panoramic views across north-east Scotland.

  • Include time at the Bennachie Visitor Centre if your schedule allows.

Royal Deeside Walk

A stone pyramid-shaped structure in a forest clearing with tall trees on either side and a dirt path leading to it.

Discover the landscapes and stories of Royal Deeside on a private guided walk. Around 1 hour 20 minutes from Aberdeen Harbour, the Balmoral Estate offers beautiful Caledonian pine forest, open hills and a fascinating connection with the Royal Family.

One option is a walk through the estate to the historic Balmoral Cairns, a collection of monuments commissioned by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert to mark important family events. The route can be adapted to suit your walking ability and the time you have ashore.

Highlights:

  • Walk through the beautiful landscapes of the Balmoral Estate.

  • Discover the story of the historic Balmoral Cairns.

  • Enjoy forest trails, open views and the chance to spot local wildlife.

  • If time allows, your walk can be combined with a visit to Balmoral Castle or another local highlight.

Cairngorms National Park Walk

A narrow canyon with tall rocky walls covered in moss and greenery, a small creek running through the reddish-brown soil, and trees at the top of the canyon with sunlight filtering through.

Muir of Dinnet National Nature Reserve is a wonderful option for a gentler shore excursion on foot. Around an hour from Aberdeen Harbour, its mix of lochs, woodland and dramatic geology offers plenty to discover without the need for a strenuous mountain day.

A walk can include the shores of Loch Kinord, ancient archaeological sites and the spectacular Burn O’Vat, a huge rock formation shaped by glacial meltwater. Along the way, your guide can share the natural and human history of the reserve, with opportunities to look for woodland and wetland wildlife.

Highlights:

  • Explore one of Royal Deeside’s National Nature Reserves.

  • Discover Loch Kinord, ancient history and the dramatic Burn O’Vat.

  • Excellent opportunities for wildlife and nature interpretation.

  • A gentler walking option that can be adapted to your time ashore.

Drum Castle & The Old Wood of Drum

A historic castle surrounded by a lush, well-manicured lawn, with vibrant pink flowering shrubs on the left and tall trees in the background under a partly cloudy sky.

Just a short journey from Aberdeen Harbour, Drum Castle and the Old Wood of Drum offer a gentler walking experience combining ancient woodland, local history and the Aberdeenshire countryside. Explore peaceful forest trails through historic oak woodland in the grounds of one of Scotland’s oldest tower houses.

Highlights:

  • Walk through the historic Old Wood of Drum and its ancient oak woodland.

  • Enjoy peaceful forest trails and the surrounding rural landscape.

  • Experience changing seasonal colour, from spring woodland to autumn foliage.

  • If time allows, add a visit inside Drum Castle or stop for refreshments.

This is an excellent option for guests looking for a shorter, more relaxed walk within easy reach of Aberdeen.

Stonehaven and Dunnottar Castle

A coastal scene with a large, historic castle on top of a rocky hill, overlooking the ocean. The castle has stone walls and is partially in ruins. A pathway winds up the hill, with a few people walking along it. In the foreground, there is green grass and a wooden fence.

Walk from the historic harbour town of Stonehaven along the dramatic Aberdeenshire coastline to one of Scotland’s most spectacularly situated castles. Perched on a 160-foot sea stack above the North Sea, Dunnottar Castle makes an unforgettable destination for this coastal walk.

Starting in Stonehaven, the route climbs to the war memorial on Black Hill before following the clifftop path south towards Dunnottar. Along the way, enjoy sweeping coastal views and the chance to spot seabirds and other marine wildlife. The walk can be adapted to your time ashore, with the option to spend some time in Stonehaven or visit the castle.

Highlights:

  • Follow the clifftop path from Stonehaven to Dunnottar Castle.

  • Enjoy dramatic views along the Aberdeenshire coast.

  • Look out for seabirds and occasional marine wildlife offshore.

  • If time allows, visit Dunnottar Castle or spend some time in Stonehaven.

Inclusions and Optional Extras

What’s Included in Your Shore Excursion

  • Private collection and return to Aberdeen Harbour.

  • Experienced Hillgoers guides, with additional guides provided for larger groups.

  • Private transport arranged to suit your group size and chosen walking location.

  • A walking route tailored to your interests, ability and ship’s schedule.

  • Route planning and advice on what to bring.

Black Volkswagen van parked on a rough pavement near a wooded area, with one rear sliding door open, showing the interior seating.

Make Your Day Your Own

Your walk can also be combined with additional experiences, depending on your interests and the time you have ashore.

  • Packed lunches or a luxury picnic.

  • A visit to a castle or historic site.

  • A local food or refreshment stop.

  • A distillery visit where time and availability allow.

Tell us what interests you and we’ll help put together a day that keeps the walk at its heart.

Picnic setup on a blue and purple plaid blanket with various food and drink items, including sandwiches, pastries, drinks, glasses, and utensils, in a natural outdoor setting surrounded by trees and rocks.

Looking for something different? We can create a private walk around your interests, ability and time ashore. Get in touch and we’ll plan it together.